Bed for infants



June 1, 1937. w. P. MYRON BED FOR INFANTS Filed Dec. 26, 1933 5 Sheefcs-Sheet l INVENTOR.

y m i W B June 1, 1937.

- 5 Sheet-S ShBet 2 2 0 5 6 V I7 3 /4 I V l I I J l q INVENTOR. IV LL-m M R Mrrea/V ATTORNEY 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. WILLIAM F? Mme o/v W. P. MYRON BED FOR INFANTS Filed Dec.

EW f0 June 1, 1937.

ATTORNEY Patented June I, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to beds for infants.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a bed for premature and/or feeble infants, which bed can be kept under controlled temperature at proper air circulation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed for infants, the bed may be either heated or unheated, whereby the handling of the infants is facilitated. The bed constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly adapted for use in hospitals, or nurseries, wherein many infants are handled in a comparatively small space. In order to save space the beds of the infants must be placed close to each other, and

frequently the beds are placed side by side. By providing a collapsible shelf at the foot end of the bed, and also compartments and drawers below the bottom of the inclosure of the bed, the handling of the infants in a comparatively small space can be accomplished with great ease.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bed for an infant for so called isolation cases, wherein the medicines and clothing of the infant must be also isolated, and the clothing be kept 05 at a desired temperature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a selective control for spaced heating elements in a bed for infants.

Other objects and advantages are to provide a 30 bed for infants that will be superior in point of simplicity, inexpensiveness of construction, positiveness of operation, and facility and convenience in use and general efficiency.

In this specification and the annexed drawings,

the invention is illustrated in the form considered to be the best, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to such form, because it may be embodied in other forms; and it is also to be understood that in and by the claim follow- 49 mg the description, it is desired to cover the invention in whatsoever form it may be embodied.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a heated bed 45 constructed in accordance with my invention, parts of the bed being shown broken away and are shown in section.

Figure 2 is a fragmental side view of the hinge bracket for the shelf of the bed.

50 Figure 3 is a fragmental front view of the hinge bracket, and of the weighted bar for the same.

Figure 4 is a wiring diagram showing the connections of the heating elements to the switches.

Figure 5 is a sectional view of an unheated bed 55 constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a selectively heated bed without drawer or shelf, but with reinforced posts and legs.

Figure '7 is a side view, partly in section, of a selectively heated bed for so called isolation cases, with heated compartment below the bottom.

Figure 8 is a fragmental plan view of the arrangement of the heating elements and control in the bed shown in Figure 7, and

Figure 9 is a wiring diagram of the electric heat control in the bed shown in Figure 7.

In carrying out my invention I make use of bed posts 5, the legs of which rest on casters 6 of the usual type to allow the rolling of the bed on the floor. Between the suitably spaced posts 5 is formed an inclosure by the sides I, head end 8, foot end 9, and bottom ll, integrally and smoothly united with corner posts 5, so as to prevent hldden corners and the accumulation of dirt or dust thereat. The sides of the inclosure are preferably made of sheet metal.

A perforated support I2, preferably made of framed heavy wire screen rests upon lugs l3 on the sides of the inclosure spaced above the bot tom II. On the support I2 is placed a basket l4 made of bent flat bars framed together and lined with rubber IS on the outside for silent handling. In the basket I is usually placed the bedding for the infant on which the infant is placed. The basket H as well as the support l2 can be readily removed from the inclosure of the bed.

On the outer face of the foot end 8 of the bed is swingably supported a shelf IS on pivots H at its end adjacent the top of the bed. The shelf l6 has downwardly extended flanges 18 around the edges thereof to inclose the pivots and hinges when the shelf I6 is collapsed. The shelf I6 is held in extended position, as shown in Figure 1, by hinge brackets l9 at each side thereof. Each hinge bracket l9 includes links 2|, and 22. The link 2| is made of two spaced parallel flat bars to accommodate the link 22 therebetween when the bracket I9 is collapsed into the position shown in Figure 5. The free or lower end of the link 2| is pivoted on a lug 23 on the foot end 9 of the bed, and the outer end of the link 22 is similarly pivoted to the under side of the shelf IS. The meeting ends of the links 2| and 22 are joined by the shouldered end of a pivot bar 2|. The end of the link 22 extends between the bars of the link 2| and is forked unevenly at 26 to fit over a stop pin 21 extended through the link 2| in spaced relation below the pivot 24. The end of the pivot bar 24 extends through an axial, elongated slot 21' in the link 22 to allow the sliding of the link 22 for the disengagement and engagement of its forked end 28 with the stop pin 21. A suitable weight 28 on the pivot bar 24 exerts a downward force on the pivot of the links 2! and 22 so as to draw the same into fully extended position after the shelf II is raised and to prevent accidental collapsing of the bracket hinges is when the infant is placed upon the shelf ll.

The sides I of the bed are extended downwardly beyond the bottom II, and the lower edges thereof are bent inwardly to form tracks 29 on which rides a drawer II. The drawer it can be pulled out toward the foot end of the bed to be in parallel, spaced position below the shelf I, and hold the clothing or bedding of the infant conveniently for the handling of the infant.

Asshowninl'lgm'e5thebedmaybeused without electrical heating elements, but in many instances feeble or premature infants require well regulated air temperature and proper air circulation. The basket l4 contains bedding or a small mattress II and operates as a deflector. In the space between the support l2 and the bottom II are disposed the heating elements. A cast metal conduit 32 is extended longitudinally in said space above the bottom II the entire length of the bed. At spaced points on the conduit 82 are formed enlarged outlets 33 on the opposite sides oi which are sockets 34 to receive usual light bulbs 36 of desirable power and heat generating qualities. At the foot end 9 of the bed is a switch box 31 which is connected to and preferably formed on the end of the conduit 32. Into the end of the conduit 32 adiacent the head end I oi the bed leads a cord 38 of the usual type, provided with a plug I! for connection with a source of electricity such as the electric wiring system of a building. The wires 4| and 42 of the cord extend through the conduit 32. One terminal of each socket 34 and therefore one terminal of each bulb 36 is connected to the wire 4|. The other terminals of the four sockets 34 and the four bulbs 36 nearer to the foot of the bed are connected to a wire 43, which in turn is connected to a terminal 44 of the usual toggle switch 46. The other terminal of the switch 46 is connected to the other wire 42 of the cord 38. The sockets 34 and bulbs 46 nearer to the head of the bed have the other terminal connected to a wire 41, which leads to the terminal 48 of another usual toggle switch 49. The other terminal of the toggle switch 48 is also connected to the live wire 42. In this manner the circulation and heat at the foot and at the head of the bed of the infant is under complete selective control. By turning on the switch 46 the heat is generated at the foot and at the middle of the space below the basket l4, while by turning on the switch 49 heat is generated below the head of the infant. By turning on both switches uniform and maximum heat is generated throughout the entire space below the basket l4. The basket deflects the heated air toward the sides and creates even air circulation. The switches 46 and 49 are conveniently accessible on a switch plate or cover II on the outer face of the foot end 9 of the bed. The heating of the bottom i I also transfers some of the heat to the compartment of the drawer 3 l The bed shown in Figure 6 is a selectively heated bed constructed similarly to the bed heretofore described, with the exception that it has no shelf, nor a bottom drawer, but the leg portions of the posts 8' of the bed are stiffened by where the infant is kept.

diagonal brace bars 52 securely united with the posts I and with each other in spaced relation below the bottom H. r

A modified form of my invention is shown in Figure 7. The upper structure of this bed is similar to the heated beds heretofore described, but to adapt the bed for so called isolation cases the lower structure and the bottom of the bed is modified. Below the bottom ll oi the bed a space is provided by another bottom SI near the floor. It is to be noted that in the beds herein described the bottoms of the bed inclosures are spaced to a substantial distance above the floor. The space between the bottoms II and II is divided in two halves by a vertical partition 54. The space nearest to the head of the bed has a narrow, horizontal shelf 50 and is preferably open, to contain medicine and medical equipment for the treatment peculiar to the case. The space adjacent the foot end of the bed has a hinged door I! to form a closed compartment 58 for the bedding, clothing, and the like of the infant. The accessories for the handling of the infant, that are kept in the compartment 58 should be kept practically at the same temperature as the air in the upper enclosure of the bed For this purpose a comparatively large opening 59 is provided in the bottom II at the compartment 58 so as to allow air circulation between the upper bed inclosure and the compartment 58. The aperture 59 is covered by a perforated plate or screen ii.

In order to provide additional heat and selective control therefor with regard to the compartment 58 a branch conduit 82 is extended downwardly from the conduit 32 between the switch and the outlets nearest to the foot end of the bed. The branch conduit 62 extends through the screen 6| into the compartment 58 and terminates in a horizontal socket 63 in which is held a suitable electric bulb 54 protected by a wire shield 86. Selective control for this additional heating unit is afforded by wires 81 and 68 extended through the branch conduit 62. Wire 81 connects one terminal of the bulb 64 to the line 4|, while wire 68 connects the other terminal of the bulb 64 to the terminal 69 of a third toggleswitch H, which latter is arranged in the switch box 31' along the other toggles 46 and 49 and its live terminal is connected to the line 42. In this manner the circulation and heat through the entire bed inclosure and also in the compartment 58 can be selectively controlled through the multiple toggle switch.

Having thus described this invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

In a bed for infants comprising a bottom, two sides, and two ends, the combination with a basket spaced above the bottom of the bed, of a compartment below said bottom of the bed, said bottom of the bed having an aperture through it to communicate the space above the bottom of the bed with said compartment, a plurality of heating elements longitudinally spaced in the, space above the said bottom, a heating element in said compartment, and means to selectively connect either several or all of said heating elements to a source of electricity, so as to permit circulation of heated air from said compartment to and around said basket so that the temperature in the said compartment corresponds to the temperature around the basket.

WILLIAM P. MYRON. 

